Life Beyond the Classroom from Middle School Through High School: Developing Effective Transition Strategies

By Dr. Paul Wehman Ph.D. M.S. B.B.A.

To prepare students with disabilities for success in a rapidly changing world, transition planning must start as early as possible. Get teachers ready to conduct intentional, meaningful transition planning in middle through high school with this practical textbook, ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses on special education and transition.

To better meet the needs of faculty and students, the sixth edition of Life Beyond the Classroom is now two books: one focused on middle and high school, another focused on employment. Developed by renowned transition authority Paul Wehman and a new team of distinguished experts, this reimagined classic fully prepares preservice teachers to meet the legal requirement that transition planning start in middle school, with evidence-based strategies and sample plans developed specifically for school settings.

Enhanced with updated faculty materials, practical tools, video clips, and more, this important text will help educators lay the groundwork for their studentsâ (TM) long-term success in todayâ (TM)s increasingly complex digital world.

Future teachers will learn how to:

Develop person-centered IEPs that foster independence and self-determinationEnsure that student goals align with their strengths and aspirationsEngage both students and families in the process of transition planningSupport successful transitions from middle to high schoolBetter understand the student perspective through candid accounts from self-advocatesIndividualize transition plans for students with varying support needsAdvance equity and inclusion within transition planning and academic instructionImprove transition outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse youth with disabilitiesStart preparing students for postsecondary education and competitive employment

WHATâ (TM)S NEW: More in-depth exploration of transition planning for younger students * First-person accounts from self-advocates * The latest evidence-based strategies for IDEA-mandated transition planning * New and expanded faculty materials

FACULTY MATERIALS: Updated PowerPoints, sample transition plans, chapter introduction videos, applied assessment activities, and more tools to support learning (checklists, tip sheets, lesson plans, case studies, and more).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681258927
• ISBN13: 9781681258928
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Brookes Publishing Company
• Length: 288 Pages
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary